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Seriously? I have NEVER posted on this board as anything but my real name.
As for a nasty history, that's subjective to the point of view of the people stealing from me, and the people condoning it, despite the fact they know it is wrong.
And I am always pleasant until people attack me for protecting what is legally mine, as any other person would do.

I do appreciate the private notes from people that understand and who don't want to risk a public drubbing from the wolf pack mentality.

Hrmmm.... Seems like the only one to whom your nastiness seems subjective is you. You've been extremely nasty on this thread despite the fact that no one was claiming your work as their own and only posted it because they admired it and found it inspirational. I don't think I've seen anyone disagree with the fact that you should have creative license and protect your work as your own. The disgust is with how poorly you conduct yourself. I would bet money that you would have received 100% understanding and support if you had written a post began with "thank you so much for enjoying my work", then graciously explained that you have had issues with your work being co-opted and used without permission and that you prefer it be removed from this thread. You could have then provided a legitimate link where COTHers could read your piece. I bet you might have even picked up some new fans/readers. Instead you behaved with rudeness and immaturity and chose to alienate potential readers. You would reeeaaally benefit from a good marketing course because you are doing a terrible job promoting yourself and your work.

The copyrighted name is Because My Daughter Grew Up With Horses. From what I can tell the "father" version came about from an Australian Pony Club newsletter where someone switched the title to hide the use of copyrighted material.

Good Lord why didn't you just say that in the first place???

About the only time losing is more fun than winning is when you're fighting temptation.
-- Tom Wilson, actor & comedian

If it is Trinityapp's work, then she has a right to be pissed that it's being spread around without her permission (not saying she has handled it in a great way though). But in reality, it's just a sappy piece of dribble written in a most mediocre way as is the majority of the crap passed around the internet.

“While the rest of the species is descended from apes, redheads are descended from cats.” Mark Twain

If it is Trinityapp's work, then she has a right to be pissed that it's being spread around without her permission (not saying she has handled it in a great way though). But in reality, it's just a sappy piece of dribble written in a most mediocre way as is the majority of the crap passed around the internet.

Wow...that's a little harsh. I think if the piece was as you describe it, it would not be circulated to the degree that it is. There is wisdom in it whether the writer subscribes to the same laudable behaviors in "real life" or not...that's sort of irrelevant. I appreciate the piece - does that make me some back woods ignoramus with the same amount of culture as a single serve Oikos? Whatever.

Having said that - and I get the due diligence & vigilance in wanting to keep one's writing off porn sites, and the like - what about Pinterest??? If someone finds the piece, is impressed by the sentiment, and then pins it to one of their boards, what then? It is then shared with all their followers, cross posted to Facebook, Twitter, and Lord only knows where else. How do all these folks fit the definition of criminal or thief because they wanted to share something they found on the Internet - something that doesn't show any copyright or have an author attributed? Perhaps keeping all of one's intellectual property locked away is the best option if the sharing or discussion of one's intellectual property is going to incite this type of reaction. Many of us understand guarding our ideas. (After having my ideas shot down by my superiors at a national brand only to see them successfully implemented a few months later under someone else's name...yeah, I get circling the wagons around one's ideas.)

As to how the writer is dealing with this....a writer should understand the power of words. I wouldn't be wading back into this with any response otherwise. Sugar instead of vinegar. A suggestion: "Folks I'm so flattered that you are enjoying this piece however it is copyrighted and...blah, blah, blah...Breyer...blah blah blah. Again, thanks for kind words about my piece, but please understand that it needs to be removed from the thread. I mean no ill will, but I've contacted the moderators."

Wow...that's a little harsh. I think if the piece was as you describe it, it would not be circulated to the degree that it is. There is wisdom in it whether the writer subscribes to the same laudable behaviors in "real life" or not...that's sort of irrelevant. I appreciate the piece - does that make me some back woods ignoramus with the same amount of culture as a single serve Oikos? Whatever.

No I don't think it's harsh. It's sappy sentimentality with a smattering of grammar mistakes and a good dose of delusional thrown in. But if you like it, hey whatever, it's all good- it doesn't mean that I can't call it how I see it.

“While the rest of the species is descended from apes, redheads are descended from cats.” Mark Twain

After reading some of this lady's tirades toward those who have unwittingly violated her copyright and misappropriated her masterpiece, and of course reading said masterpiece (legally, of course .. On the Breyer web site where it is undoubtedly garnering her massive royalties with each click) I have reached only one logical conclusion.

Wow...that's a little harsh. I think if the piece was as you describe it, it would not be circulated to the degree that it is. There is wisdom in it whether the writer subscribes to the same laudable behaviors in "real life" or not...that's sort of irrelevant. I appreciate the piece - does that make me some back woods ignoramus with the same amount of culture as a single serve Oikos? Whatever.

Twilight sucks and 50 shades of gray....and yet, they are bestsellers....

If it is Trinityapp's work, then she has a right to be pissed that it's being spread around without her permission (not saying she has handled it in a great way though). But in reality, it's just a sappy piece of dribble written in a most mediocre way as is the majority of the crap passed around the internet.

tabula rashah - as with much in life, everything is relative. You absolutely have a right to call it as you see it.

FWIW - I just logged into FB and on my newsfeed several people are sharing "A Father's Essay..." Do we all have an obligation, be informed at this point, to go onto the sharer's pages and admonish/correct them....

tabula rashah - as with much in life, everything is relative. You absolutely have a right to call it as you see it.

FWIW - I just logged into FB and on my newsfeed several people are sharing "A Father's Essay..." Do we all have an obligation, be informed at this point, to go onto the sharer's pages and admonish/correct them....

They certainly need to be warned that Beetlejuice is about to decent on them.

I started thinking about some of the girls we knew in our town who were already pregnant, pierced in several places, hair every color under the sun, drop outs, drug addicts and on the fast track to no-where, seeking surface identities because they had no inner self esteem.

Trinityapp, do you have issues with piercings and hair colors? My hair has been purple, red, blue, and green. At my barn, one of the best riders there (who is female) has a mohawk, tattoos, and piercings. Yet she is definitely one of my inspirations, she is so soft and light in the saddle and understanding to the horse. It seems awfully close-minded to judge people who are expressing themselves via the color of their hair and piercings.

I deplore that it causes people to steal, lie and become defensive when they see it, it certainly wasn't the intent when I wrote it for my daughter. She's had to deal with harassment and having her article misused for 4 years now. For some reason a piece about values brings out the worst behavior in people.
The person with it listed on their blog has been reported, as they are using it without permission too. I just don't get why people can't ask permission, before using someone's work.
Have a nice day, and thanks for once again contributing for why I am so sorry this piece was ever shared with anyone but my daughter. It just brings out the worst in people.

Ummm, You are sorry that this piece was ever shared with anyone but your daughter?

If I recall correctly, three or four years ago you were selling tee shirts, mugs and anything else you could get this printed on through Cafe Press.

The other poster you are thinking of is her sister who is also a blogger. They both have equally lovely personalities.

Every man has a right to his opinion, but no man has a right to be wrong in his facts. Bernard M. Baruch

There is NO posting of this article prior to Jan 21st, 2008, as that is the exact date it was written. People have searched high and low to try to prove different and there is NO time stamped page on the www where it exists. I still have the laptop I wrote it on, complete with the original time stamped file.

On January 21, 2008 you posted this on a yahoo group for Appaloosas, on January 22 Sharon at Clark Appaloosas asked you if she could forward it to some friends and you gave her permission.

Several years ago I wrote an essay about my first year on the farm. I posted it here on CoTH. It was picked up a lot of places, "author anonymous" and published on a calendar, several magazines, and even in CoTH. The only thing that really bothered me was the anonymous part. I calmly contacted CoTH, and they printed a correction and even offered me some other writing work. It was all very nice. But then, I have been a professional writer since 1978. I don't get too bent out of shape over one little essay. My point is that if you approach most people professionally, they will gladly give you credit and if your work is any good, or if you have more than one little essay, the innocent mistake can be a real door opener. But if you think you only have one essay in you, well, then maybe you over value it in your mind and get a little nuts if you think people are "stealing" the only decent thing you ever did -- or ever will -- write. Too bad.